Thoughts, Opinions, Commentary from Patricia Stewart.
Patricia Stewart is a vocal and engaging civic activist living in the South Ward of Trenton. She is genuinely interested in improving the quality of life for all Trentonians and improving the reputation of the City of Trenton.

On Wesdnesday, the The Trenton Times published a letter from one Maria Kelly who was in a snit because the Dishonorable Mayor was not permit...

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Friday Afternoon Massacre

Since no one posts comments, I assume no one reads this blog which means I can really say stuff. Shutting city hall down one day a week for thirteen weeks is not a bad idea. (1) Folks keep their jobs (and their benefits)albeit at a lesser salary, but consider the alternative...the unemployment line and no medical insurance! (2) City hall, and the county, and the state, and the federal government frequently shut down for three days - it's called three day weekends/holiday weekends. (3) Sometime between 2000 and 2004 (I really don't remember the exact dates) there were two shutdowns because two levels of government ran out of money. Both the state and the federal government shut down for a few days (at different times) and you know what happened? NOBODY NOTICED!!!! Maybe if the city shuts down, we will realize that we have been paying for something we don't need. (4) Exempting the police and fire departments from this makes sense - remember police and firefighters work on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Sunday, 24/7. It is simply the nature of the beast. (5) Why not the Clerk's office? Because city council is really in charge of the Clerk's office. Maybe at their next meeting, council will decide to close that office on Friday for thirteen weeks. In closing, it WAS most tactful of the mayor to announce this on Friday rather Monday when the media could have made a hash with references to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Apparently, Mayor Mack learned something after the, "Happy Pearl Harbor Day," remark. He deserves credit for that.

In closing, I am really surprised that the administration decided on one day a week for thirteen weeks. He probably should have gone with closing every day at 1PM. Have a good weekend.